The government has unveiled a fresh resettlement plan for hundreds of displaced Nkhata Bay families just as the affected households head to Capitol Hill.

At least 367 families from Kasasile in Nkhata Bay District are travelling to Lilongwe to petition the government, saying they have endured years of hardship after they were allegedly evicted from their homes by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers.

As the march got underway, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development announced that Minister Chimwemwe Chipungu had met Members of Parliament from the Northern Region to discuss progress on resettling the affected families. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Justice Charles Mhango and Minister of Defence Feston Kaupa.

According to a statement signed by Amani Mussa, Principal Secretary for Lands, the government has resolved to identify and acquire suitable land in a neighbouring district where all the displaced families will be permanently resettled in one location.

The ministry said it is working with several government agencies to speed up the resettlement process.

“To ensure seamless implementation of the resettlement plan and mitigate the impact of the current status of the families, the Ministry is working with other Government agencies. including the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) and district councils,” reads the statement.

Pending permanent relocation, the Ministry says the families will remain at the temporary shelter at Thungwe, where DoDMA has been tasked with providing support to ensure they live in humane conditions.

The government has also established a committee comprising Members of Parliament and officials from the Ministry of Lands, DoDMA and other government agencies to identify suitable land and coordinate the welfare of the displaced families until they are permanently resettled.

The Ministry of Lands said the government remains committed to ensuring that the resettlement process is carried out in an orderly, transparent and humane manner while safeguarding the welfare and dignity of all affected families.

However, the announcement has come as the affected families press ahead with their march, arguing that previous assurances have failed to translate into permanent homes.

They are demanding immediate action, saying they can no longer continue living in temporary shelters without certainty over their future.